EDMONTON
(AP) - The 2022 Season brings with it many changes for the
Edmonton Orcas. Shortstop
Dan Stroud became the first player to start and end his career
with the franchise. His clubhouse leadership and intellect
for the game will translate nicely as the team has moved him
into the front office.

The
team bid farewell to long time head coach Robin Yount. Thirteen
years is a long time for anyone to be in any position really,
said Yount at his retirement news conference. It was
fun, it was thrilling, but it is time for me to move on.
Younts start was worst all time as a Manager, as the
team posted 18 and 17 wins its first two seasons. But, after
development and money, he brought the team to respectability
from 2015-2018, where the Orcas repeated as Roehm Divisional
Champions, but never made it to the Weaver Series.

Pete
Alexander was named the new head coach of the Edmonton Orcas
to replace Yount. After a brief discussion with the Long
Beach Lobsters, an agreement was cordially made. After
the announcement, owner Ken Paplanus said, (GM J.J.
Wurz) flew out to see the pitcher when he went down with that
awful injury last season. Clearly there is some bond there
and, as Mike Castro steadfastly remains our head coach, it
was not a problem to let Pete go. Wurz had nothing but
praise for his Roehm division rival. It was great that
Ken agreed to release Pete Alexander from his contract. He
was our first star in Edmonton, we have always had a great
respect for the man, and the trade was both business and personal,
so he could win his ring.

Free
Agency saw John Lantz leave the SeaDome for warmer climates
as the Jamaica Rastafarians
signed him to a one year deal with incentives. His departure
clears the way for rookie second baseman Pete Double
Duser, so nicknamed by his AAA Otter teammates because he
set the franchise record in doubles during his first season
in Ottowa. Duser is slated to lead off for the Orcas this
season.

Coming
to the team via Free Agency are pitcher Al Mooty, formerly
of Chernobyl, and outfielder
Lewis Robert Wilson, better known as Hack, who played for
his first five seasons in the Planet-X Galactic League. Mooty
was a starter for the Mutants there, but the lefty sinkerballer
is expected to fill a big hole in Edmontons bull pen.
Hack Wilson signed a lucrative deal with the Orcas and was
immediately plugged into the cleanup spot.

The
rest of the cast remains the same though. Valdes, Herman,
Brett, Aspromonte, and Jones are the same starting pitchers.
Danny Irwin, last years big free agent signing, is the closer.
Quintanar, Estrada, and Temple are the big bats around Wilson.
Youngsters Shorty Devlin, Luigi Lombardi, and Arthur Reinbach
return to their positions with hopes to be in the race until
the bitter end.